Middlebury register. (Middlebury, Vt.) 1886-1937, 1887-12-02
some revenge.

"refused to go on a new reservation" and
war began they fought all winter, and in
the spring of 1878 took position in the noted
'lava beds"-a region of wild gorges and
hidden valleys, the remains Of a volcanic
field-and there withstood the troops till mid
summer. At a conference with the Indians
Gen. Candy and DR.. Thomas were treacher-
ously killed, and Mr.. Meacham, a member Of
the peace commission, wounded. For this
the noted Capt Jack and other chiefs were
hanged On the 25th Of June, 1876, occurred
the noted Custer massacre, which provoked
long and angry controversy. We now know
the important facts. Gen. Custer, being
then under charges of insubordination, de-
termined to win another Indian fight and
thus secure his standing in the army. With
hls regiment, the Seventh United States
cavalry, he reached a big camp of Sioux at
noon, and with great rashness attacked them
on their own chosen ground while the In
dams and their horses were fresh and his
own force worn out by a long march. Moth
ing but disaster could follow. Maj. Reno,
with part of the command, having attacked
one end of the Indian camp, was able to get
out upon high ground and sustain him.
self till re-enforcements came Gen.
Custer led an attack on the other
end of the Indian camp: his command was
surrounded and not a man escaped. The
total loss was a6l killed, besides fifty
wounded in Reno's command. There was a
loud cry Of indignation at somebody, but
when all the facts were known there could be
but one verdict: he had attacked a vastly
superior force, as well armed as his own men,
better mounted, better posted and with all
the advantages in favor Of the Indians. But
one result was possible. Sitting Bull and
Rain-in-the- Face, the Sioux leaders, became
men of national fame. The war resulted in
their retreat into British America, whence
they have since returned; and now that par
ticular band is among the most peaceful, and
several warriors who took part in that mas
sacre are now quiet farmers on the Sioux
reservation at Devils Lake, d. 7. Fort Gus
ter now dominates the once hostile section of
Montana, and from it lately went the troops
which had the battle with the Crows
The next year the Nez Perces war inter-
ested the country; but it was settled
| by hard marching more than fighting. Gen
| o. o. Towards troops made forced marches
| in pursuit Of the Indians, over mountains and
across deserts, for l 900 miles. In August,
1881, the Apaches Of Arizona broke out
again, committing the most horrible atroci-
ties. Four hundred warriors fell upon Col.
| COmm2nu II THO w nlue fuOuuIdluS anu
massacred every one-seventy men and seven
officers Thus began the last Arizona Indian
war which, after dragging tediously on for
five years, was happily ended by Gen. Crook,
the Chief Geronimo surrendering and most
Of the hostiles being taken to Florida for safe
keeping. Nearly two years Of peace have
succeeded, and now we have perhaps a big
war on hand with the Crows.
The United States contains in round num-
bers nearly 100000 Indians OF these one
fifth are highly civilized and two-ifths semi
civilized The former are in the older
states and Indian territory; they have good
homes and schools, printing presses and man
ufactories, and are in general way proSres-
sive and enlightened. The semi-civilized in.
clude the Pueblos Of New Mexico and Ari.
iona, the mission Indians Of California and
elsewhere, and few others. OF tho uncivil.
lied two-ffths more than half are peaceable
Indeed, there has not boon q time for forty
years when ono-fifth of all tho Indians were
hostile at one time. A new theory Of duty
toward them has been adopted. The Hamp
ton and Carlisle schools are but types of the
new system. Awkwardly and slowly, it i.
true but in . sincere way, tho Christian PEG
pie Of the United States are earnestly trying
to redeem the Indians from heathenism anS
barbarism-